The field of hospital security is woefully underfunded, writes American healthcare security man Kevin Mulcahy.
As challenges arise due to the new health insurance policies, hospitals are cutting back on projects and searching for ways to run a leaner and more efficient operation. Although it is commendable to reduce spending and minimize budgets, there are some areas where this is not only unadvisable, but downright dangerous. Numerous reports have shown a drastic increase in the amount of mental health patients being seen in Emergency Rooms across the country. This increase coincides with an uptick of violent incidents against hospital staff and patients.
The purpose of this article is to describe the necessity of hospital leaders to fully staff their Security departments. While violent incidents at hospitals have been rising steadily for years, the available trained staff to combat these situations has remained unchanged. The economic costs from a single violent incident can easily far exceed the expenditure for an additional security staff member.
A patient standby is defined as a medical and/or safety hold placed on a patient due to violent, aggressive, or unpredictable behavior. The data will demonstrate that the sheer number of patient standbys per month is staggering and the manpower necessary to monitor violent patients is significant, especially in summer months and during the holiday season.
As for the cost to employ security staff at a facility based on gross square footage; it ranges from less than $0.50 per square foot up to approximately $1.25 per square foot, depending on the security requirements for the facility. This shows that the median cost per gross square foot for security staff is $0.73. It can be challenging to cost effectively staff large hospitals with numerous satellite locations and spacious grounds that require constant monitoring. The amount of Security staff per square foot should be at least equal to the median. Many hospitals are located in the center of a high-crime areas that see several accidental and intentional overdose patients, as well as patients being held involuntarily until there is room at a facility that specializes in mental health issues.
According to a recent study, the average cost incurred by a hospital is $31,643 for each reported assault against a Registered Nurse. McGovern et al. (2000). This number is roughly the yearly salary of the requested additional security officer. The reduced liability due to proactive patrols as well as the interdiction of violent offenders far exceeds $31,643.
The hours spent monitoring patients significantly decreases the amount of proactive patrols, patient/visitor escorts, and relationship building encounters with hospital staff and visitors. With Security staffing increased to adequate levels, normal duties would be minimally affected by patient standby events. In the event of a violent attack the additional Security Officers, who have the tools and training to safely and effectively control a violent patient, will be critical to the health and safety of patients, staff, and visitors.
With the healthcare landscape changing significantly in recent years, hospitals have been forced to run leaner organisations and cut back on all non-essential personnel. The data in this paper explains that Security Officers are essential to the health and safety of patients, staff, and visitors. One additional downside to recent healthcare reform has been a reduction of services targeted at mentally ill individuals. Many of these individuals are now unable to afford mood stabilizing medications and often arrive in emergency rooms highly agitated and seeking medications. Additional Security Officers will minimize violent events and help to provide a safe healing environment for patients.
About the author
Kevin Mulcahy is a Security Sergeant for Lakes Region General Healthcare in New Hampshire. He holds a B.S. in Business Management and is pursuing an MBA in Hospital Administration at Plymouth State University. He is certified in both hospital security and hospital safety. He has experience in loss prevention, risk management, and law enforcement. He is also a member of the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety.
